Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet Pininfarina chassis 021.
The Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet by PininFarina constitutes a singular execution within the broader 202 series, a model line defined by its pivotal role in postwar automotive design. Commissioned by Piero Dusio and constructed by Cisitalia (Consorzio Industriale Sportiva Italia) of Turin, the 202 was introduced in 1947 as a highly stylized gran turismo, merging advanced mechanical principles with avant-garde coachwork. While most open-top derivatives were bodied by Stabilimenti Farina or Vignale, often to Pinin Farina’s original design template, only one known example was both designed and physically constructed by Pinin Farina: chassis 021. Built upon Cisitalia’s standard tubular steel chassis, the 202 Cabriolet utilized a front-mounted, inline four-cylinder engine of 1,089 cubic centimeters, derived from the Fiat 1100. Output was approximately 55 horsepower, transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox. Though not conceived as a racing automobile, the lightweight construction and aerodynamic envelope endowed the 202 with dynamic capabilities consistent with the expectations of its clientele. Top speed approached 165 kilometers per hour, depending on final gearing and configuration. The design of chassis 021 reflected the formal restraint and proportional clarity for which PininFarina would become internationally recognized. Unlike the more common coupé variant, the Cabriolet offered an open passenger compartment and a folding roof mechanism integrated with minimal intrusion upon the vehicle’s silhouette. The frontal treatment, body-side curvature, and rear deck tapering were executed with particular sensitivity to balance and visual rhythm. Following its completion, chassis 021 is believed to have been exported to Argentina. Unconfirmed reports suggest temporary association with the household of President Juan Perón. The car later surfaced in North America before returning to Europe in the late 20th century. Cosmetic restoration was undertaken in the Netherlands, followed by a mechanical overhaul completed between 2002 and 2003. The vehicle was subsequently sold at auction in Monaco in 2010, achieving a recorded price of €212,800. The Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet by Pinin Farina remains a unique artifact—an exemplar of artisanal coachbuilding executed at a critical moment in the evolution of automotive form. It endures not only for its rarity, but for the formal clarity with which it articulates the postwar Italian aesthetic.
Chassis
The Cisitalia 202 is particularly important to automotive history both because it was the first car in the world to be permanently exhibited in a modern art museum, the MoMA in New York, and because it can be considered the first example of the postwar Italian-style granturismo.
